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Do you think that's true of most of us?

Probably. Most of the time. If we walk around totally aware of God's presence all the time, we'd be lunatics. We wouldn't be able to get any work done. But I really do think I was incredibly dense at that period. There was this period where I just was so withdrawn from any sense of religion.

There is this disconnect from organized religion for many people. There's this gap between their spiritual longing and the sense that they can satisfy it in the tradition in which they were raised.

I see people seeking community. I have one friend who was practicing yoga and she said that was her spiritual life, she didn't need organized religion. Then she just realized that she was lonely, and she didn't think joining a yoga class would work. She visited on a plane with an Episcopal priest and ended up joining the Episcopal Church. She still does her yoga for physical flexibility and well-being, but now feels she's part of a worshiping community and loves it.

What have we miscommunicated about the Christian tradition that where 86 percent of people in this country say their official religion is Christianity, and yet most of them feel very disconnected from it?

Three things are so badly taught it's a miracle that anyone survives: the Christian faith, poetry, and mathematics. Those three things are always taught so any natural aptitude you have is going to be squelched out of you by the time you're in 8th grade. Why we worship, what prayer really is and what it isn't, all of those things are really not taught well to children. They have these little cute word puzzles and they might memorize the names of the books of the Bible, but that's not going to help them when they're 14 and wondering about the real issues of life. I think people just need a better grounding in whatever faith tradition that they're in. We've short-changed a great religious tradition.

Copyright © 2002 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Visit DickStaub.com for audio and video of his radio program (4-7 p.m. PST), media reviews, and news on "where belief meets real life." The full text of this interview will be for sale on the website soon.

An excerpt from Kathleen Norris's Amazing Grace appeared in the April 3, 2000, issue of Christianity Today.

Christianity Today sister publication Leadership Journalinterviewed Norris in 1999 about biblical community.

Earlier Dick Staub Interviews include:

Thomas Moore | "To really live a secular life and enjoy it is part of being a religious person," says the author of Care of the Soul and The Soul's Religion (July 9, 2002)

Os Guinness | Whether we're seeking or have already been found, we're all on a journey. (July 2, 2002)

Oliver Sacks | The physician author of Awakenings talks about his Orthodox Jewish upbringing, order in the universe, and testing God. (June 25, 2002)

David Myers | People say they know money can't buy happiness, says the Hope College psychology professor. But they don't truly believe it. (June 18, 2002)

Richard Lewis | The comedian, actor, and author talks about his humor, addiction, and spiritual journey. (June 11, 2002)

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July (Web-only) 2002, Vol. 46